Pathways To Potential
United Way of Southwestern Indiana’s new strategic framework includes a move to competitive grant funding. Requests for Proposals (RFP’s) will be released semi-annually and will center around one or more of our Pathways. Any 501(c)3 in good standing that serves Vanderburgh, Warrick, or Spencer counties is eligible to apply. A nonprofit does not have to be a legacy “Partner Agency” to apply for these funding opportunities. United Way of Southwestern Indiana is excited to expand our partnerships and empower individuals and families with resources to support upward mobility.
All applications are evaluated and scored by content expert taskforces. The highest scorers are passed to United Way’s Community Impact Cabinet who makes funding recommendations to the Board of Directors. For more detailed information on our funding process, click here.
Pathways To Potential
Pathways to Potential is United Way SWI’s issue-based, competitive grant process to
address the root causes of poverty. Due to the large and complex nature of poverty, we
prioritize the following pathways toward upward mobility: employment, mental health,
youth services, and a two-generation approach to social stability.
Applicants must be either a 501(c) 3 organization registered with the IRS or a community group with a 501(c)3 organization serving as its fiscal sponsor. Proposed projects must provide services in Spencer, Vanderburgh, and/or Warrick County
THE PATHWAYS
EMPOWERING EMPLOYMENT
Empowering individuals with the resources needed to
secure and maintain living-wage employment
MENTAL HEALTH
Advocating for, and improving,
access to mental health care
THRIVING NEXT GEN
Equipping children and youth with skills
to thrive both socially and academically
SOCIAL STABILITY & GROWTH
Strengthening relationships that serve as a safety net and alliances that expand opportunities for growth
Two of the four Pathway Grants are awarded each year as part of a two-year cycle.
Funding Process
At United Way, we convene the resources needed to solve our community’s most critical problems. One of those resources is charitable dollars. United Way raises funds, then oversees the investment of your hard-earned dollars back into activities and programs that demonstrate positive impact toward solving the problem.
But we don’t do that alone.
We depend on teams of local content and context experts who volunteer their time to develop each Request for Proposal and to evaluate applications. They help us invest your donation into local nonprofits and collaborations that empower individuals and families with resources to support upward mobility. United Way works to make demonstrable impact toward a chosen goal and has developed four Pathways research shows have the strongest links to upward mobility.
Click here for more information on our new strategic focus on upward mobility and view a listing of our current funded partners here.
Funding Process
At United Way, we convene the resources needed to solve our community’s most critical problems. One of those resources is charitable dollars. United Way raises funds, then oversees the investment of your hard-earned dollars back into activities and programs that demonstrate positive impact toward solving the problem.
But we don’t do that alone.
We depend on teams of local content and context experts who volunteer their time to develop each Request for Proposal and to evaluate applications. They help us invest your donation into local nonprofits and collaborations that empower individuals and families with resources to support upward mobility.
Social Stability & Growth Grantees
Evansville Christian Life Center – $250,000
Warrick and/or Spencer County expansion of GAIN initiative which helps low-income people build relationships through a cohort training on financial management and life skills, as well as pairs them with mentors.
Dream Center Evansville – $246,000
Expansion of their current “cradle to career” model by training additional volunteer community members to serve as peer mentors and coaches for Dream Center families.
Community One – $224,300
Expansion of their neighborhood revitalization efforts, including strengthening relationships with residents and completing action projects.
Habitat for Humanity – $192,749
A pilot program that helps applicants previously denied homeownership due to debt challenges improve their financial situation. Mentors will work directly with the participants and connect them to relevant resources.
Catholic Charities – $94,000
Support for an additional eight months to Neighbor to Neighbor program graduates to ensure progress toward financial stability and goal achievement.
Hospitality & Outreach for Latin Americans (HOLA) – $90,000
SS&G funds will help prepare the younger generation for higher education and career achievements by providing mentors to assist with college visits, financial aid, college applications, and job shadowing.
Thriving Next Gen Grantees
Southern Indiana Mentoring Academy (SIMA 100) – $267,400
Expansion of in-classroom mentors at 3 EVSC schools and begin process of adding mentors in all elementary and middle schools.
Immigrant Welcome and Resource Center – $255,080.70
Offer mentoring, tutoring, after-school programming, workforce readiness coaching, and summer programs.
Koch Family Children’s Museum of Evansville – $236,480.30
Partner with Glenwood Leadership Academy to execute three programs designed to foster critical thinking and development.
The Potters Wheel – $250,000
Supports cradle-to-career social and educational interventions at Bosse High School and its feeder schools.
Southern Indiana Resource Solutions, Inc. (SIRS) – $135,424
Support a full-time resource navigator for Spencer County middle and high school students with disabilities.
YWCA – Live Y’ers Program – $200,000
Afterschool learning and activities for girls in grades 3-8 and mentoring opportunities beginning in grade 6. Mentoring services for boys in grades 6-8.
Big Brothers Big Sisters of SWI – $186,620
This program will train high school students to serve as mentors to middle school students.
Dream Center Evansville – $150,000
Student Success Coaches at three schools to understand a student’s academic needs and deliver on interventions to promote sustainable growth.
Mental Health Grantees
Catholic Charities – $152,440
Support a part-time, bilingual licensed social worker (LSW) for the outpatient counseling program and underwrite community language interpretation training for three staff members.
United Methodist Youth Home – $177,631
Expansion of therapy program for at-risk youth to include those recently discharged from UMYH inpatient programs and youth in need of outpatient services to prevent court intervention.
Youth First – $150,000
Support evidence-based youth mental health prevention programs in five EVSC schools with larger low-income populations. This work addresses critical, underlying challenges that improve mental health and break cycles of poverty.
Success Through Mentoring – $88,924
Underwrite one full-time position and expand mentoring opportunities further into Spencer County. The organization connects adult mentors to kids from lower-income, underserved communities.
Empowering Employment Grantees
ARK Crisis Children’s Center – $332,940
Expansion of Ark’s Working Parents Program that provides childcare based on when a family needs it with prioritization given to those experiencing active crisis, homelessness, and DCFS involvement.
Carver Community Organization – $231,060
Increase the number of spaces available for second-shift childcare (Ages 6 weeks to 12 years).
Grow Southwest Indiana Workforce Board – $165,000
Support neighborhood-based employment assistance in Vanderburgh, Warrick, and Spencer Counties through Neighborhood Employment Navigators (NENs).
Missing Pieces Community Development Corporation – $125,000
Support and expand their worksite transportation program.
Legal Aid Society of Evansville – $11,000
Upgrade software legally required for processing expungements and storing protected client information.
The Process
The Impact Cabinet assesses the financial resources available and determines funding pools for each Request for Proposal.
In advance of a scheduled Pathway Request for Proposal release, a taskforce of content and context experts is assembled to:
- Assess the need in the respective Pathway area
- Determine the specific impact goal for the RFP
- Develop the RFP, including eligibility criteria and evaluative measures
- Evaluate and score grant applications.
Additionally, a taskforce of financial experts is assembled to review applicants’ financial position and program efficiency.
Applications are evaluated via a blind review, ensuring no potential favoritism by anyone who may have professional relationships with applicants. Scores are reviewed by the Impact Cabinet and funding recommendations are based on both applicant scores and available resources. All funding recommendations are then approved by our Board of Directors.
Grant Management Platform
We utilize the e-CImpact software to manage grant applications, progress reports, and accountability documents. If you are a new applicant, you will choose the “New to e-CImpact” selection at the bottom of the login page.